Setting Benchmark for Safety in Manufacturing. Safety excellence certification underscores Muratec’s industry-leading role in quality, performance, and operational excellence across North America

Murata Machinery USA, Inc. has announced its official recognition as a Carolina Star Program participant, North Carolina’s highest workplace safety honor. The designation, awarded by the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), affirms Muratec USA’s commitment to creating and maintaining an exemplary safety and health management system that exceeds regulatory compliance.

North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley presented Muratec USA officials with the Carolina Star flag and certificate during a ceremony at the company’s Charlotte headquarters. The event included Muratec USA President and CEO Keiji Yuasa, Muratec USA’s divisional leaders, the company’s safety team, and Safety Specialist Ken Dake, who serves as the company’s liaison with the Carolina Star Program.

“The Carolina Star Program represents the highest standard of workplace safety in our state,” explained Farley. “Companies like Muratec USA demonstrate that investing in safety pays dividends — fewer injuries, lower costs, and stronger employee morale. Muratec’s leadership sets an example for manufacturers across North Carolina.”

Safety Certification Underscores Industry Leadership

Carolina Star certification represents the culmination of Muratec USA’s safety journey in 2025 and serves as a springboard into 2026 under the leadership of Keiji Yuasa, who assumed the role of President and CEO in October 2025 with a clear vision to embed safety as a fundamental pillar of enterprise integrity. 

“Safety is a cornerstone of Muratec’s vision for operational excellence. Earning Carolina Star certification reflects the dedication of our employees and leadership to create one of the safest workplaces in North Carolina, while upholding the same high standards across all Muratec facilities in North America,” said Mr. Yuasa. “This achievement builds on Muratec’s 90-year legacy of automation innovation and strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional value to customers through reliability, quality, and trust.”

Murata Machinery USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Murata Machinery Ltd., founded in 1935 in Kyoto, Japan, is a global leader in industrial automation and reliability. As the sole manufacturer of the Muratec brand, the company delivers innovative solutions in high-speed automated turning and fabrication, logistics and material handling systems, clean factory automation, and textile machinery. 

With a long-standing history of pioneering advancements in North America, Muratec USA has introduced groundbreaking technologies that are often the first of their kind, the only ones available, or the fastest in the world, supported by comprehensive sales, service, and technical expertise. Through its commitment to safety and operational excellence, recognized by the North Carolina Department of Labor with Carolina Star certification, Muratec USA sets a benchmark that influences industry standards and reinforces its position as a trusted leader in manufacturing automation.

The Carolina Star program, a state initiative modeled after the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), recognizes employers that excel in five critical areas: management commitment, employee involvement, hazard identification and control, comprehensive safety training, and safety and health management systems.

What It Takes To Be A Safety Leader

To achieve Carolina Star certification, Muratec USA underwent a rigorous and lengthy evaluation process by NCDOL experts to demonstrate excellence in five core areas:

• Management Commitment and Leadership — Embedding safety into every decision while prioritizing it as a core value through clear expectations, resource allocation, and continuous improvement.
• Employee Involvement and Participation — Employees actively engage in hazard identification, reporting, and shaping safety programs through committees and collaboration to sustain a strong safety culture.
• Hazard Identification and Evaluation — Implementing robust systems to proactively detect, assess, and eliminate potential hazards before they affect operations.
• Hazard Prevention and Control — Implementing effective measures such as engineering controls, administrative practices, and PPE to eliminate or minimize risks.
• Safety and Health Training — Providing comprehensive training to ensure employees understand hazards and know how to work safely.

Full Carolina Star certification requires performance excellence, as demonstrated by injury and illness rates that are consistently below industry averages and supported by documented programs and regular audits.

Delivering Value Through Safety Excellence 

Carolina Star certification delivers measurable benefits to Muratec’s customers and the marketplace by ensuring a safe, well-managed environment that reduces downtime, minimizes operational risk, and guarantees reliable delivery of high-quality products. 

As one of the elite manufacturers to hold this distinction, Muratec sets a benchmark for safety and operational excellence, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner and industry leader, explained Muratec USA Safety Specialist Ken Dake. 

“Carolina Star is not the finish line for Muratec but part of a commitment to continuous improvement. Our safety initiatives in 2026 will focus on strengthening employee engagement, enhancing hazard prevention systems, and leveraging best practices from across the industry. This recognition validates the hard work of our team and sets the tone for the year ahead,” said Dake.